Americans know extent of Iran’s defensive power
“At the very least, the Americans know well how far the Islamic Republic of Iran’s defensive power can extend,” Abbas Araghchi said during a meeting with Algerian elites and media executives in the African country’s capital, Algiers, on Tuesday.
The top diplomat made it clear that Iran’s commitment to peace should not be mistaken for weakness, asserting, “The Islamic Republic of Iran does not seek war, but if necessary, it knows well how to defend itself.”
He separately underscored, “We doubt the intentions of the US and are not certain they possess the will for a fair and serious negotiation, but we will test them.”
The latter comments concerned the prospect of indirect negotiations that are set to begin between Araghchi and the United States regional envoy Steve Witkoff in the Omani capital Muscat on Saturday, with Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi as mediator.
“If their demand is for Iran not to pursue nuclear weapons, that demand can be examined,” Araghchi said. “But if they have other objectives in mind, they may not achieve them,” he added.
In the same context, the official dismissed the West’s claims that the Islamic Republic was pursuing nuclear weapons, PressTV reported.
“The claim that Iran seeks nuclear weapons is a baseless accusation,” he said. “We are confident in the peaceful nature of our nuclear program and are prepared to address any concern or worry through diplomacy.”
The foreign minister reiterated his and other Iranian officials’ earlier remarks that direct negotiations with the United States were off the table as long as Washington retained its hostile posture.
“Negotiations must take place from a position of equality, fairness, and dignity, not under ‘maximum pressure’ and military threats,” he said.
“As long as ‘maximum pressure’ and threats continue, fair conditions for negotiation do not exist, and we will not engage in direct talks,” Araghchi stated, referring to the US’s way of sustaining and even ramping up its already illegal and unilateral sanctions against the Islamic Republic, while repeatedly threatening Tehran with military aggression.
Nonetheless, Iran has left the door open for diplomacy, Araghchi noted.
“The path of diplomacy is not closed, and we have announced that we are open to indirect negotiations with the US,” he said.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the official warned that the Israeli regime was actively attempting to ignite broader regional conflict, pointing to Tel Aviv’s expansionist regional aggression, namely its war of genocide on the Gaza Strip as well as its escalated deadly aggression towards the occupied West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria.
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US will take back Panama canal from China influence: Pentagon
The United States will not allow China to jeopardise the operations of the Panama Canal, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned during a visit to the Central American nation on Tuesday.
Hegseth is the second senior US official to visit Panama since President Donald Trump took office in January, vowing to “take back” the US-built canal to counter what he sees as China”s disproportionate influence over the waterway.
“Today, the Panama Canal faces ongoing threats,” Hegseth said in a speech at a police station located at the entry to the shipping route.
Speaking alongside Panama”s President Jose Raul Mulino, Hegseth said the US and Panama together would “take back the Panama Canal from China”s influence” and keep it open to all nations, using the “deterrent power of the strongest, most effective and most lethal fighting force in the world.”
He claimed that China”s control of critical infrastructure in the canal area gave Beijing the power to conduct spying activities across Panama, making Panama and the United States “less secure, less prosperous and less sovereign.”
The Chinese Embassy in Panama issued a statement refuting Hegseth”s claim that Beijing interferes in the operations of the canal.
“China has never taken part in the management or operation of the Panama Canal, nor has it interfered in issues” concerning the waterway, the statement said, calling on Washington to halt “blackmail” and “plundering” of Panama and other countries of the region.
It labelled Hegseth”s comments “not at all responsible or founded” and said the United States “has orchestrated a sensationalist campaign based on the “China threat theory” so as to undermine cooperation between China and Panama.
“China has always respected Panama”s sovereignty with regard to the canal,” the embassy said.
The Panama Ports concession to operate Balboa port on the Pacific side of the canal and Cristobal port on the Atlantic side was first granted in 1997 and renewed for another 25 years in 2021.
Source: Marzieh Rahmani